Fitzgerald and the "American Dream"

    It's pretty clear that Fitzgerald uses the American dream as a negative outcome. Within The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses symbolism to better explain his purpose of the American dream. This also helps them see what Fitzgerald is actually targeting at, so then that way when the readers follow along the book they can start getting a clear image of Fitzgerald's purpose of the book. There were 3 main symbols in the book that stood out to Fitzgerald's thoughts about the American dream. These 3 symbols were, the green light, the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg, and the landscape of of the setting that took place in The Great Gatsby.

    The green light is placed at the end of Daisy's dock, also her mansion is right across the bay from Gatsby's mansion as well. During the book/movie the light seems to mean something to Gatsby. As Gatsby's true story starts making sense on the green light things start coming together on what the green light at the end of Daisy's dock means to him. This green light represents the hope that Gatsby has for Daisy and how he will go through anything to just reach Daisy. For example Gatsby sold alcohol to many people who wanted to buy it from him, although during that time the use of alcohol was illegal. This didn't matter to Gastby because at the end it made him rich and he threw a lot of parties, in hope that Daisy will show up. To make more sense of things, Daisy was the representation of Gatsby's American dream.

    Dr. Eckleburg (modern day Bill Gates) is a representation of wealth. This means that the eyes of Dr. Eckelburg was a big deal back then because money is all that everyone cared about. There's a special place where the sign of the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg is placed and that is in the Valley of Ashes. The Valley of Ashes is a place where the lower class (poor people) live also where Myrtle lives and her husband. This large advertisement sign of Dr. Eckleburg's eyes see over the Valley of Ashes, also known as the place where every bad plot scene seems to take place. Such as Tom's affair with Myrtle, and Myrtle's death. The eyes Dr. Eckleburg or better known as the eyes of God is a representation of the truth behind every single bad scenario that has taken place there. 

    The geography in The Great Gastby is better known as a path that Gastby has taken to being rich, it's also a clear understanding of Fitzgerald's view on a guide to being wealthy. The starting point of being wealthy is the place where the main characters live, East egg and West egg. As obvious as it gets New York City is the end point of the guide to being wealthy because it's where all the Wealthy rich people live. Although to get to NYC you have to go through The Valley of Ashes, as said before this is the place where all the bad scenarios happen. The Valley of Ashes is most known as a city of immorality or in better words it is a place of ruin. This ties back to Fitzgerald's view of being wealthy, to be wealthy is by going through immorality.
    Fitzgerald uses all 3 symbols to give a better understanding of what he is targeting for. Out of the outcome of the symbols, Fitzgerald's purpose to The Great Gatsby is giving off a negative view of the American dream. This is basically saying that the American dream can't always be achieved or go the way a person wants it to go. The only way of reaching the American dream is by changing your way of life and getting out of the mess that your previously on. The American dream is not an easy task to achieve but you can always try although it's like what Fitzgerald's purpose is trying to give off "the American dream can't always turn out the way you want it to go and it may never be finished"